Twilight Style

Ever wondered how many t-shirts Jacob goes through in a movie (about 10!)? Or how they keep the stars dry while filming? Then you’re in luck! We’ve got all of the behind-the-scenes style secrets straight from costume designer Michael Wilkinson. Take a look through to learn which Twilight characters inspired Renesmee’s style, where the idea for the Amazonian vampires costumes' originated, and why the Volturi’s outfits make that them much more intimidating.

-Jennifer Davis

In Breaking Dawn Part II, Bella finally makes the transition from human to vampire, and costume designer Michael Wilkinson was excited about creating her transformation. “I wanted to reflect her new confidence and power by creating a silhouette for the character that was clean, streamlined and close to the body,” Wilkinson said about vampire Bella. “We see Bella adjusting from being an uncertain teen to becoming a woman-she is no longer hiding in hoodies and boyish shirts, but embraces a tighter, smoother look that emphasizes her amazing physique.”

Styling the trendy vampire took some forethought. “When dressing a character that is fashionable one has to be aware that seasonal trends come and go,” Michael Wilkinson told InStyle.com. “I chose pieces that have a timeless, classic feel. Pieces that evoke a stylishness and elegance without tying the film to a certain year.”

Bella and Edwards daughter was born at the end of Breaking Dawn Part I, and their half-vampire and half-human daughter is growing up fast! “I wanted Renesmee’s clothes to reflect the styles of her two parents-the strength of her new vampire mom and the classic style of her father,” Wilkinson told InStyle.com. Renesmee is both grounded and graceful, and Wilkinson wanted to reflect that in her wardrobe by dressing her in rich earth tones like greens, purples and burnt oranges. “We also wanted to hint at the idea that her Aunt Alice may have had a hand in choosing some of the clothes!”

“The Volturi held on to their favorite wardrobe details from the various eras that they had lived through” Wilkinson said about the ancient vampires. Look for details from the 17th and 19th century mixed in with modern tailoring. “I figured with their considerable resources, the Volturi enjoyed planning the intimidating impact of their elegant attire.”

With Jacob’s new love interest and protector instincts in full-force, the werewolf strip-downs had to take a back seat to his character’s more serious role. “It was important for Taylor to achieve a certain gravity and earnestness in this film," Wilkinson told InStyle.com. "He had some pretty heavy scenes to perform.”

With the werewolves constantly changing forms, they went through clothing quicker than you could say “vampire.” In order to keep up with the wolves' many costume changes, the designers needed many multiples of all their clothing. “Sometimes I found a jacket or a shirt that was perfect, but there was only one in the world,” Wilkinson told InStyle.com. Wilkinson worked with his team to create multiples of that piece from scratch. “We sourced the fabric, drafted up the pattern, stitched together the multiples, and then aged them to look worn-out and 'wolfy.'”

The Amazonian vampires Senna and Zafrina are introduced in this film, and they’re sure to stand out in Forks, Washington. “Their costumes really leap off the screen,” Wilkinson told InStyle.com. While in South America shooting The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1, Wilkinson found inspiration for their costumes. “I took advantage of our time shooting the honeymoon scene in Brazil to acquire some authentic pieces from several different southern Amazonian tribes.”

Breaking Dawn Part 2

will culminate in a final battle scene between the Volturi and the Cullens, and the Volturi will be looking their best-if not a little intimidating. “I wanted them to have an imposing sense of authority," Wilkinson told InStyle.com. “I studied the professional clothing of the European courts over the last few centuries, and incorporated some of the silhouettes and details that seemed appropriate.”

While the Volturi will be dressed in ceremonial garb Wilkinson wanted the Cullens and their allies’ wardrobe to contrast with the ancient vampires. “I wanted the Cullen’s allies to have an individual, non-uniform feel that emphasized the different personalities,” Wilkinson told InStyle.com. “I used different textures and fabrics that were appropriate to their ethnicities.” Plus, pay attention to the colors they’re wearing! The Cullens are in warm and earthy tones, contrasted with the Volturi in cool grey, gold and cardinal red.

Filming in rainy locations like Oregon and Washington often resulted in problems with wardrobe, especially when shooting the wedding scene in Breaking Dawn Part 1. With only two multiples and a waterlogged aisle that had been painted greenish brown by the art department, costume designer Michael Wilkinson had nightmares! “I had vision of the wet paint slowly creeping up the hem of the dress, but in the end we got away with it,” Wilkinson told InStyle.com. “We shot the wide shot first, and sure enough, by the time we moved in for the close-ups, the hem was soaking up the paint like a thirsty sponge!”